Quick-disconnect gas pipeline

ABSTRACT

A quick-disconnect gas pipeline comprises a quick-disconnect device (QDD) which comprises a QDD male end and a QDD female end, and a gas hose. The QDD male end is connected to the gas pipeline inside the heating system and the QDD female end is connected to the gas hose outside the heating system. When the heating system is not used, it is easy to disconnect the QDD to prevent people from tripping over the long gas pipeline.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.application Ser. No. 15/586,626 filed on May 4, 2017, which claimspriority to Chinese Application No. 2016208712140 which was filed onAug. 12, 2016, the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to a quick-disconnect gas pipeline.

2. Background Art

Heating devices, such as a gas heating stove and table top gas heaters,have existed for many years. Many varieties and adaptations of heatingdevices have been developed. As society has developed and livingstandards have increased, outdoor heating devices have becomeincreasingly common.

However, heating devices such as gas heating stoves and table top gasheaters usually need to be connected to an external gas tank to supplygas to the heating unit. Therefore, gas heating stoves or table top gasheaters typically include a long gas pipeline to connect the heatingunit with the gas tank. Even when the gas tank is not in use, the longgas pipeline remains connected to the heating unit. Hence, there is arisk of people tripping over the long gas pipeline causing injury and/ordamage to the heating device, gas line, or gas tank.

Therefore, a quick-disconnect device is required to easily connect theheating device and the gas tank when the heating device or gas tankneeds to be used and/or disconnect the heating device and the gas tankwhen the heating device or gas tank is not used.

SUMMARY

Here, the disclosed embodiments include a system which can at leastpartially overcome the above-described disadvantages.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a quick-disconnect gaspipeline comprising a quick disconnect device (“QDD”), which comprises aQDD male end and a QDD female end, and a gas hose is provided. The QDDmale end is connected to the gas pipeline inside the heating system andthe QDD female end is connected to the gas hose outside the heatingsystem.

In another embodiment, the heating system comprises a gas heating stoveor gas heating table which comprises a table top and a plurality oflegs, and a heating part, wherein one leg of the plurality of legs has ahole through which the gas hose can be coupled with said gas pipeline.

In another embodiment, the heating system comprises a combustion chamberwhich comprises a base, a table top, and a heating part, wherein saidbase consists of four solid plates, said four solid plates are connectedto a support at each corner, and said QDD male end of saidquick-disconnect gas pipeline is fixed onto one solid plate of said foursolid plates.

In a further embodiment, when the heating system is not used, said gashose outside said heating system can be disconnected at said QDD. Inaddition, said gas hose outside said heating system can be connected atsaid QDD so that said heating system can be connected to an external gastank. The connection of said QDD is realized by pulling the safetydevice outside said QDD female end to put said QDD female end on saidQDD male end and then releasing said safety device. The disconnection ofsaid QDD is realized by pulling the safety device outside said QDDfemale end to remove said QDD female end from said QDD male end and thenreleasing said safety device.

In a further embodiment, the heating part comprises a brazier, a burner,a gas valve assembly, an ignition component, and a control knob. Saidgas valve assembly comprises a gas valve, a nozzle, a thermocouple, anda regulator used for regulating the gas flow. Said ignition componentcomprises an ignitor and an ignition pin, wherein said ignition pin isconnected to said ignitor with a lead and approaches said burner.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the disclosed embodimentswill become apparent from the detailed description of the embodimentswhich follows, when considered with the attached figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings are included to provide a further understandingof the disclosed embodiments. One or more exemplary embodiments shown inthe drawings of the present disclosure together with the description areused to illustrate some principles and operations. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the heating system comprising a gasheating stove or gas heating table in an embodiment of the presentutility model, where said heating system is equipped with a gas hosewhich is connected to the heating system;

FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, and FIG. 2F respectivelyshow a top view, rear view, left view, front view, right view, andbottom view of the heating system equipped with a gas hose in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the heating system shown in FIG. 1 anda gas tank;

FIG. 4 shows the QDD and the regulator-hose assembly, which can beapplied to the heating system shown in FIG. 1, according to oneembodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 5A shows the connection between the heating system and the gas hosewith the QDD shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5B shows details of the connection between the heating system andthe gas hose with the QDD at part A in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A shows the disconnection between the heating system and the gashose shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6B shows details of the disconnection between the heating systemand the gas hose at part B in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A shows the connection between the heating system and the gas hosewith the QDD in another embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 7B shows details of the connection between the heating system andthe gas hose with the QDD at part C in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A shows the disconnection between the heating system and the gashose in another embodiment of the present utility model; and

FIG. 8B shows details of the disconnection between the heating systemand the gas hose at part D in FIG. 8A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a more thorough description of the disclosedembodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art,that the embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without thesespecific details. In other instances, well-known features have not beendescribed in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments of theinvention.

In one embodiment, the present application can provide aquick-disconnect gas pipeline, which, for example, can comprise a quickdisconnect device (“QDD”) comprising a QDD male end and a QDD femaleend, and a gas hose, as shown in FIG. 4. The QDD male end is connectedto the gas pipeline inside the heating system and the QDD female end isconnected to the gas hose outside the heating system. To be specific,the quick-disconnect gas pipeline can be connected to different heatingsystems such as gas heating stove or gas heating table, and combustionchamber. FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5A to FIG. 6B show an embodimentwhere the QDD male end of the quick-disconnect gas pipeline is fixedonto a leg of the heating system such as a gas heating stove or gasheating table, and FIG. 7A to FIG. 8B show another embodiment where theQDD male end of the quick-disconnect gas pipeline is fixed onto a solidplate of the heating system such as a combustion chamber. The followingwill describe the details of said embodiments in combination with thedrawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the heating system comprising a gasheating stove or gas heating table equipped with a gas hose connected tothe heating system, and FIGS. 2A-2F respectively show a top view, rearview, left view, front view, right view, and bottom view of the heatingsystem shown in FIG. 1. The gas heating stove or gas heating tableusually comprises a table equipped with a plurality of legs to supportthe tabletop, and a heating part accommodated on the tabletop. The tablecan be in the shape of a square with a rectangular opening at thecenter, where the opening is configured to accommodate the brazier. Thetabletop can be made of a rigid material such as metal or ceramic. Asdescribed previously, the tabletop can be connected to the legs by useof different connection methods such as a connector (e.g. a pin). In oneembodiment, the legs can be hollow and in the shape of a cylinder. Oneleg near the place where the heating system is placed has a hole in oneside, and the gas pipeline can pass through said hole to reach theheating part to supply gas from an external gas tank to the heatingpart.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the heating system shown in FIG. 1 anda gas tank 160. The heating system specifically comprises the followingstructures: a tabletop 110, a plurality of legs 120, a brazier 130, aburner 140, an electrode 151, thermocouple 152, a thermocouple protector153, a gas control valve 154, a control knob 155, an electronic ignitor156, a nozzle 158, semi-rigid gas pipeline 157, a QDD, a regulator, anda hose assembly 230. The brazier 130 can be in the shape of a rectangleand is configured to be disposed in the rectangular center opening inthe tabletop. Other shapes may also be considered for the brazier. Theburner 140 is made of a high-temperature resistant material, forexample, a steel alloy. The surface of the burner 140 has a plurality ofsmall holes, and a pipe is directly connected to the burner 140 toreceive the gas fuel from the gas tank 160. The burner 140 can also bein the shape of a rectangle, and the bottom of the burner has some lugswhich are used to fix the burner onto the brazier 130. In addition, thegas valve 154 can be connected with the thermocouple 152 so as to sensethe temperature. When the gas valve 154 is opened, gas can be suppliedfrom the gas tank 160 to the burner 140 for burning. In a disclosedembodiment, the opening of the gas valve 154 can be controlled by acontrol knob 155. The volume of intake gas can be regulated bycontrolling the regulator. The ignitor 156 is connected to the ignitionpin (not shown in the figure) with a lead. The ignition pin can belocated to approach the burner 140 so that the burner 140 can be ignitedwhen the ignitor is activated and the gas valve 154 is opened. The QDDcomprises a QDD male end 210 and a QDD female end 220 and will bedescribed in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows the quick-disconnect gas pipeline 200. The quick-disconnectgas pipeline comprises a QDD and a gas hose. As described above, the QDDcan be integrated into the gas pipeline and can be connected to theheating system, for example, the heating system shown in FIG. 1. The QDDconsists of a QDD male end 210 and a QDD female end 220, wherein the QDDmale end 210 can be connected to the gas pipeline 157 inside the heatingsystem (see FIG. 3) and the QDD female end 220 can be connected to thegas hose outside the heating system. The other end of the gas hose isconnected to the regulator.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show in detail the connection between the heating systemand the gas hose with the QDD, as shown in FIG. 1. The gas hose outsidethe heating system can be connected at the QDD so that the heatingsystem can be connected to an external gas tank. To be specific, the QDDmale end of the quick-disconnect gas pipeline is fixed onto a leg of theheating system. The connection of said QDD is realized through thefollowing procedure: Pull the safety device outside said QDD female endto put said QDD female end on said QDD male end and then release saidsafety device, as shown in FIG. 5B.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show in detail the disconnection between the heatingsystem and the gas hose shown in FIG. 1. When the heating system is notused, the gas hose outside the heating system can be disconnected at theQDD for storage. The disconnection of said QDD is realized through thefollowing procedure: Pull the safety device outside said QDD female endto remove said QDD female end from said QDD male end and then releasesaid safety device, as shown in FIG. 6B.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show in detail the connection between the heating system(for example, combustion chamber) and the gas hose with the QDD inanother embodiment. The heating system (for example, combustion chamber)shown in FIG. 7A comprises a base, a table top 320, and a heating part.The heating part comprises, for example, a control knob 330, an ignitioncomponent 340, and other components such as brazier, burner, and gasvalve assembly (not shown in FIG. 7A). The base consists of four solidplates 310 connected to a support at each corner. The base can be hollowand in the shape of a cylinder, a box, or in other shapes. The table top320 can be rectangular or form other shapes. The table top 320 isconnected to the top of the base, for example at the top of foursupports of the base with connectors such as pins and bolts. Otherconnection methods such as adhesives and welding may also be considered.The center opening, where a brazier, for example, can be placed, may beformed at the center of the table top 320. The control knob 330 can beinstalled on the solid plate 310 and can be regulated to control theintake gas for burning. The brazier, burner, and gas valve assembly arehidden in the base. The ignition component 340 can also be installed onthe solid plate 310 and near the burner for ignition. In a preferredembodiment, the gas valve assembly comprises a gas valve, a nozzle, athermocouple, and a regulator and is used for regulating the gas flow,and the ignition component comprises an ignitor such as pulse ignitorand an ignition pin, wherein the ignition pin is connected to theignitor with a lead and approaches the burner.

As described above, the gas hose outside the heating system can beconnected at the QDD so that the heating system can be connected to anexternal gas tank. For the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 7A, the QDD maleend of the quick-disconnect gas pipeline is fixed onto a solid plate ofthe heating system. The connection of the QDD is realized through thefollowing procedure: Pull the safety device outside the QDD female endto put the QDD female end on the QDD male end and then release thesafety device, as shown in FIG. 7B.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show in detail the disconnection between the heatingsystem and the gas hose in another embodiment. When the heating systemis not used, the gas hose outside the heating system can be disconnectedat the QDD for storage. The disconnection of the QDD is realized throughthe following procedure: Pull the safety device outside the QDD femaleend to remove the QDD female end from the QDD male end and then releasethe safety device, as shown in FIG. 8B.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof this invention. In addition, the various features, elements, andembodiments described herein may be claimed or combined in anycombination or arrangement.

What is claimed is:
 1. A quick-disconnect gas pipeline for a gas heatingtable comprising: a quick disconnect device (“QDD”) which comprises aQDD male end and a QDD female end, wherein the gas heating tablecomprises a table top; a plurality of legs supporting the table top, atleast one leg of the plurality of legs being hollow and comprising aninternal gas pipeline extending therethrough to the table top; andwherein one of the QDD male end and the QDD female end is mounted to theat least one leg of the plurality of legs and is connected to theinternal gas pipeline and the other of the QDD male end and the QDDfemale end is exposed to an outside of the at least one leg of theplurality of legs and is connectable to a gas supply hose.
 2. Thequick-disconnect gas pipeline of claim 1, wherein a heating part isdisposed adjacent to the table top and is connected to the internal gaspipeline.
 3. The quick-disconnect gas pipeline of claim 2, wherein theheating part comprises a brazier, a burner, a gas valve assembly, anignition component, and a control knob.
 4. The quick disconnect gaspipeline according to claim 3, wherein the gas valve assembly comprisesa gas valve, a nozzle, a thermocouple, and a regulator and is configuredto regulate the gas flow.
 5. The quick-disconnect gas pipeline accordingto claim 3, wherein said ignition component comprises an ignitor and anignition pin, wherein said ignition pin is connected to said ignitorwith a lead and approaches said burner.
 6. The quick-disconnect gaspipeline of claim 1, wherein when the heating part is not used, the gashose outside the gas heating table is configured to be disconnected atthe QDD.
 7. The quick-disconnect gas pipeline of claim 1, wherein thegas supply hose outside the at least one leg is configured to beconnected at the QDD so that the gas heating table is connectable to anexternal gas source.
 8. The quick-disconnect gas pipeline according toclaim 1, wherein the connection of the QDD to the gas supply hose isfacilitated by pulling a safety device outside the QDD female end to putthe QDD female end on the QDD male end and then releasing the safetydevice.
 9. A gas heating table comprising: a table top; a plurality oflegs supporting the table top, at least one leg of the plurality of legsbeing hollow and comprising an internal gas pipeline extendingtherethrough to the table top; a heating part disposed adjacent to thetable top and connected to the internal gas pipeline, and a quickdisconnect device (“QDD”) which comprises a QDD male end and a QDDfemale end, one of the QDD male end and the QDD female end being mountedto the at least one leg and connected to the internal gas pipeline, andthe other of the QDD male end and the QDD female end being connectableto an external gas source.
 10. The gas heating table of claim 9, whereinthe plurality of legs comprise an upper portion that is connected to thetable top and a lower portion opposite the upper, and wherein the one ofthe QDD male end and the QDD female end that is mounted to the at leastone leg is mounted on the lower portion of the at least one leg.
 11. Agas heating table comprising: a table top; a base extending downwardsfrom the table top; a heating part disposed adjacent to the table top;an internal gas pipeline connected to the heating part and extendingthrough the base; and a quick disconnect device (“QDD”) mounted on thebase below the table top, the QDD comprising a QDD male end and a QDDfemale end, one of the QDD male end and the QDD female end beingconnected to the internal gas pipeline, and the other of the QDD maleend and the QDD female end being connectable to an external gas supply.12. The gas heating table of claim 11, wherein the base is hollow andcomprises a cylindrical shape.
 13. The gas heating table of claim 11,wherein the base comprises walls connected at sides of the walls. 14.The gas heating table of claim 13, wherein the walls are connected atsupports.
 15. The gas heating table of claim 13, wherein the wallscomprise solid plates.
 16. The gas heating table of claim 11, whereinthe base comprises a first depression formed into the base, and the QDDis mounted within the depression.
 17. The gas heating table of claim 16,wherein the base comprises a second depression, and the gas heatingtable further comprises a control knob and an ignition componentdisposed in the second depression.
 18. The gas heating table of claim16, further comprising a cover disposed on the first depression that isconfigured to selectively cover the first depression.